I am inside the palace and we are packed and ready to go. Last night, I consulted with emperor Wu, who wished us a safe voyage. Our bags are filled with the finest silks in all of Han China. Wu believes that demand for these garments will be substantial as we move westward. It is more common to attempt a voyage such as this over the sea, but Wu insists that a land expedition will allow us to meet new peoples and sell more goods. I, for one, am skeptical. We shall see who is correct in the end.